Corn-harvesting apparatus



March 25, 1930. J, WEBB 41,752,216

CORN HARVESTING APPARATUS Filed Aug. 5, 1926 2 sheets-sheet l1 76*jw/*WM March 25, 1930. J. WEBB CORN HARVESTNG APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Shevet2 Filed Aug. 5, 1926 H wmmmw Patented Mar. 25, 1930 JOSEPH WarnierCINCINNATI, oIIIo FFICEd Y conN-I-IARvEs'TING APPARATUS Applicationfiled August 5, 1926. Serial No. 127,426.

My invention relates to corn harvesting apparatus. One of its objects isto provide improved frame or `supporting apparatus adapted to simplifyand reduce the number of parts and the cost of production. Anotherobject is to provide improved severing mechanism adapted to severthe'weeds and vines as wellas the corn stalks, and also adapted to severseveral corn stalks at the same time, where the corn is so planted thatthe stalks developed two or more in a group. Another object is toprovide improved means to direct weeds and vines into engagement withthesevering means to insure their being severed. Another object is to'provide'for clearingv the harvester apparatus from engagement with theunsevered portion of the corn stalks;V Another obj ectis to provideimproved height adjusting means wherebythe corn may be severed at anydesired height above the ground. Another object is to provide forsevering two rows at one operation, and for variably adjusting theapparatus to cut two rows when the rows are'variably spaced apart.Another object isto provide improved pick up and feeding apparatus topick yupbroken or inclined stalks, the upper portion ofk the :stalks tothe harvesting apparatus. My invention also com- 30 prises certaindetails of form and arrangement, andv combination of components,all ofwhich will be fully set forth in the description Vof the f accompanying"drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a corn harvester embodying myimprovements.

Fig. 2 is a plan of'a'portion ofthe same, partly in section upon line2-2 of Fig. 1. A

3 is a sectional detail through the severing apparatus ytaken on vline3--3 ofFig. 2. Fig/lis a rear end'view of Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is aplanofan elevation adjusting link or crank arm, detached. l 4; Fig. 6 isa plan of oneof the supporting frame sections detached.V Y

,Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the member shown in Fig. 6.l f A c Fig! 8iS a Side 'elevatonof the member and to feed Fig. 9 is aperspectiveviewof a weed deflecting nger detached. f

The accompanying drawingsillustrate the preferred embodiment of myinvention, in which 15 represent the traction wheels, one uponeachsideofthe frame,y of which only one is shown in Figs. 2 and 3.-yEach traction` wheel is provided with an internal gear l16 rigidlyattached thereto.

The wheels 15 and gears 16 are journaled upon stud shafts 17, carriedrigidly by links orv crank arms 18.

The

crank arms 18 are provided with short tubular shafts 19 which journal inbearings 2O carried bythe cast frame members 22, whereby'the stud shafts17 are adjustable con'centrically `about the members 19, to facilitateadjusting the supporting lframe to different heights above the ground,to thereby sever the corn stalks at different heights above-the groundas may be desired. Each of the frame members`22 is provided with a'segment 24 having a series ofperforation's 25 concentric with the boreVof thejournal bearing 20. The cra-nk arms 18 are each provided with anear 26 having a perforation27 to register Vwith any one of theperforations itI'IIl r 25. A boltV or pin 28 serves to lockfthe crank 18rigidly to the `frame member 22vat,

any one of several different positions by passing the-bolt 28 throughthe vperforation 27 and through any selected one of the perforations 25.Y Y Two, frame which'are counter-parts or left and right members. areemployed hand frame members mounted respectively upon opposite sidesofthe centrally located draw bar 29. The supporting .framev comprisesinaddition to the frame members 22, the diverging angle bars 30 and 31,which are connected to the frontend of the draw bar by means of ametalcrossl bar 32, and at their rear ends lby a metal cross bar.` The framemembers 22 are Yprovided with aseries of spacedperforations '34, all orka portion of which are adapted to register with allor aportion ofasimilar series at opposite ends of the cross of perforations barBS,whereby the frame. membersL may be adjusted or V spaced closer together`or farther apart as may.

berequred to enable,two adjacerltrew SISI subject-matter of a separateapplication.Y

Pickup members 38 and 39 are employed in pairs upon opposite sides ofeach corn row to piek up any vbent or inclined corni' stalks and todirect them into position to be severed. Each of the pickup members 38and 39 is pivotally attached at 40 to the supportingV frame and isadapted to have its free end eX- tended forwardly of Vthe supportingframe with its curved forward end resting upon and riding over thesurface of the ground. The

free ends of the pickup members 38 and 39 arev adapted to Ybe shiftedto` an idle elevated position asl shown in Fig. l1, whenthe cornharvester is not inI use,ror when it is required to make short turns. Yy

A vertical driven shaft 41 and a vertical idle shaft 42 are vprovidedrespectively with sprocket wheels 43 and 44 adapted to drive sprocketchains 45 and 46, which chains are providedwith outwardly projectingfeeding fingers 47 which engage the upper portions of the corn stalksandfeed lthem from the pickup members toward the severing mechanism. ForVthis purpose a feeding channel 48, see Fig. 3, having light weightsheet metal walls 49fand 50 is preferably providedalong which the cornis fed to and from the severing mechanism.

Corn stalks are usually accompanied by Y ing and draw-cut action of thesevering disk weeds and vines, the stems vof, which are tough and strongand more difficult to sever than arel the 'corn stalks, and which arerequired to be severed, as otherwise the operation of the harvesterwould be choked and interrupted; Also while the corn stalks are usuallypresented to `the severing mechanism Y one at a time, it' frequentlyoccurs that two or more stalks are Vpresented simultaneously or in abunch, and require to be severed practically .at the'same time, whichputs severe strains upon Vthe severing mechanism, tending to render itunreliableor inoperative.4V vInY order tojl insure reliable operationof' the severing' mechanism yunder all normal' condi- Ytionsofoperation, I vprovide a severing blade v52 which is stationarilymounted uponv the frame member 225in an inclined position.

A severing disk-53 is journaledupon a shaft( Y 54, thefaxis ofwhichshaft is atan-angle of approximately *forty-five degrees tothe'normaler vertical afXisof the cornstalks to be severed.j VTheperiphery or cuttingA edge of gear 56 at the rear end ofthe shaft 54meshesV with and is driven by a beveled gear 57, jourvnaled loosely uponthe stud shaft 58 which is mounted rigidly ina boss 59 carried by l theframe memberv 22. A spur gear 6() is also mounted upon the shaft 58 andrigidly attached to the gear 57, being preferably cast integraltherewith. The gear 60 meshes with" and is driven by a spurgear 61loosely'mounted `upon a vshaft 62 which is journaled in the bore of theshaft 19 ofthe crank arm 18. A beveled gear 63 is rigidly attached toorformed integral with the gear61. The gear 63 meshes with a beveled gear64 mounted rigidly upon the lower end of the vertically disposed shaft41, to `drive the shaft 41 and through shaft 41 to drive the sprocketwheels 43 and 44 Vand the sprocket chains 45 and 46.

The shaft 62 is provided at its outer end with a pinion 65 rigidlyattached thereto, which meshes with the internal gear 16 at any positionto which' the gear 16 and traction wheel 15 may be adjusted `relative tothe frame member 22. The horse or -tractorby means ofV which the Vcornharvester 'is drawn` furnishes the powerto-drivethe severing and feedingmechanism traction wheels 15.

As illustrated in Fig. 31the corn stalks 72 indirectly through theVsuccessively enter a convergingchannel be-f tween the blade 52andthe-severing disk53`VV as the harvester is drawnalong the corn-row,and each stalk is severed by `a combined shear'- 53, while the blade 53serves to support the corn stalks from the opposite side and force themtoward and against the cutting edge of the disk 53. At the samel timetheangular relation ofthe disk A53rand blade l52 aresuch that the cut ismade diagonallyacross the corn stalk, much in the same 'manner that cornstalks have been heretofore severed by hand using a cornfknife. l

As soon as thecorn stalk has been. severed that portion above the disk53 andy blade 52 is carried or fed away from. the severing mechanismalong the feed channel 48 by anyy yoke or bend 7 3 in the frame member22'in `52 and disk 53, and .which is,` left'standinginl the ground, Iprovide'an upwardly directed the harvester frame.

49, see Fig. 4, serves as a gear housing and .n Y blade and denning achannel injrelation to rear of the disk 53 to provide a passage Jfor theupper ends of the standing sections of the vcorn stalks 74, and inaddition thereto, the

diagonally disposed cam or blade 52 bears against one side of the cornstalk sections 74 successively and deliects .them away :trom the disk 53and so as to pass throughthe channel provided therefor by the yoke orbend 73. l also preferably provide va linger 76 attached to the upperface of the bladev 52, which is rearwardly inclined so as to guide ordeflect that portion of any vine or weed extendingv above and over theblade 52 into position to insure it being severed by the disk 53,thereby tending to prevent the harvester being obstructed or impeded byunsevered vines or Weeds.

Mounted upon the shaft 62 and splined thereto is a clutch member 77,movable endwise of the shaft 62. The clutch member 77 is provided withclutch teeth 7 8 adapted to engage with clutch teeth 79 carried by thegear 63 to clutch the gear 63 and gear 61 in driving relation to theshaft 62. A coiled i spring 80 normally holds the clutch teeth 7 8 and 79 in engagement, and a lever 82 adapted to be actuated by hand orotherwise and pivoted at 83 to the frame member 22 serves to disengagethe. clutch members 7 3 and 79 when required.

A guide bar 85 above the sprocket wheels 44 serves as a journal supportfor the upper ends of the' shafts 41 and 42, and to fend the upper endsofthe corn stalksi'away from the chains and 46. A caster wheel 86 isem-V central rear portion of ployed to support the A sheet,r` metalmember to fend the corn stalks away from the gears and upper portion of.the rotary disk it 'also serves as one side of the guideway orchannel48 along which the corn rvstalks are fed to andfrom the severingapparatus. The opposite side ofthe'guideway 48y may comvprise a verticalsheet metal wall 50, or if desired an open-work wall built upof avseries of vertical and longitudinal guide-bars in placeof the sheetmetal member 50. The bearing 87 for the lower end of the shaft 41 ispreferably'formed integral with the frame member 22.

The apparatusherein shown and described is capableA of considerablemodification within the scope of the claims without departing trom'thespirit of my invention.

What I claim is: Y

1. Corn harvesting mechanism comprising a supporting traine adapted tomove along the corn row, a blade mounted stationarily upon said frameand adapted to engage one side of the members to be severed, a rotarycutter mounted in relation to said blade to severv the members to besevered above said blade and diagonallyoif the members to be severed andi v means for deflecting the standing portions of side of the members tobe severed, a :rotary cutter mounted in relation' tol said blade tolsever the membersto be severed abovesaid blade and diagonally of themembers to be severed,'and a stationarily mounted de'flector memberrising above said blade and adapted to delect the members to be severedinto engagement withy said rotary cutter.

3. lCorn harvesting mechanism comprising a supporting frame adapted tomove along the corn row, a blade mounted stationarily upon said frame.and adaptedito engage one side of the members to be severed, a rotarycutter mounted in relation to said blade to sever thefmembers to besevered above said blade, and diagonally of the members to be severed,said vblade having an engaging face to engage the standing portions ofthe members to be severed'below said cutter and to deflect said standingportions laterally out of engagement 'with said cutter.

U 4; ACorn harvesting mechanismcomprising a supporting frame adapted tomove along the corn row, a blade mounted upon said trame and providedwith a corn engaging face ldisposed diagonally relative to the corn c'and diagonally of the members to be severed,

and delecting members rising .above said said cutter to deflect themembers to be severed into the path or"l the serrations of said cutter.n f

5. Corn harvesting mechanismy comprising aA transversely adjustablevsupportingframe 'adapted tomove along the corn row, a blade mounted uponsaid frame andprovided with a 'corn 'engaging"face disposed diagonally lVrelative to the corn row and adapted to engagefone side of the memberskto be severed, yand a "serrated rotary cuttermounted in aninclinedpositionrelative tothe Vcorn row and in 'relation to saidbladet'o sever the cornand diagonallyV of the corn above'said bladestalks. A A

6.l Corn harvesting Vr'ne'chaiiisin comprising al supporting 'trameadapted to move along the corn row and provided with anupvvardly'directed yoke to provide a channel 'for the pasiio sage of thestanding sections of the corn stalks, a blade mounted upon said frameand provided with a 'diagonally 'disposed corn engaging faceadapted tosupport one Jace'of thecorn stalks through thev severing Aoperation, andto deflect the standing sections of the corn stalks away romthe cutterand through said iehannel Vin 4the frame after the severing operation,and a serrated rotaryieutterv mounted in vvan inclined position relativeto the cornrow and'in relation ito'said blade to severthe Cornabove saidblade an'ddiago.-v nally of the corn stalks.

1 7.. Cornharvesting mechanism comprising ,arsupporting frame adapted tomove along the corn row, Corn vsevering mechanism mounted upon saidframe,.a crank-arm journaled to said frame, a yperforated projection atthe free Yend of 'said 4crank-arm, a segment Y Y f carried by said'frameand provided with a series of perforations adapted to register With theperforation at the free end of said crank arm to enablesaid crank arm tobeadjusted and loeked'todiferent positions relaand diagonally of theVcorn stalks, a ltraction tive to said frame,.astud shaft carried by thefree end of said orankarm, a traction Wheel provided with a driving gearj ournaled loosely upon said lstud shaft and adjustable there- Withrelativezto said frame, a shaft -journaled ooncentrically relative tosaid crank arm Aand provided with a pinion in mesh with and adapted tobe `driven *from the gear on the traction Wheehand drivingmechanismdriven through said Veneentrically -journaled shaft to actuatethe corn severing mechanism.

,8. Corn harvesting mechanism comprising a supporting frame adapted t0move along the corn row, a blade mounted upon said frame and providedwith a-eorn engaging face dispose-d diagonally relative to the-corn rowand adapted to engage one side of the corn stalks, a rotary cuttermounted in an inclined position relative to the corn row vand inrelation to said blade to sever'the corn above said blade Wheel providedwith al drivingggear `and loosely journalled'upon a stud shaftadjustable vertieallyrelative to said fra-Ine, a vpinion engaged anddriven by the gear onsaid traction Wheel, Va pinion Vshaft journaled tosaid frame,' and'driving mechanism connecting said pinion 4shait indrivingvrelation With said rotary cutter. l l

' 9. In acorn harvesting mechanism a frame member adapted to move alongthe corn row and `comprising an angular frame havinga channelat its rearend for the passage of the stagnding'sections of the corn stalks, a.blade yto engage the v,corn stalks, .and an ,angularly disposed journalforthe shaft of arotarycutter, and along its side a journal for anadjustable ycrank arm vand a segment Ahaving a 'se-V 'rieszofperforations-concentric with Esaid ournal. I

In testimony ywhereof 'I lhave aiiixed fmysignature.

Y `JOSEPH WEBB

